Disparity between recent graduates’ and experienced surgeons' assessment of time to operative independence

Background

In cardiothoracic surgery, little data exist on the transition to operative independence. We aimed to compare current perceptions of operative autonomy of junior cardiothoracic surgeons and senior colleagues who oversee transitional years.

Bypass Surgery or Stenting for Left Main Coronary Artery Disease in Patients With Diabetes

Background

The randomized EXCEL (Evaluation of XIENCE versus Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery for Effectiveness of Left Main Revascularization) trial reported a similar rate of the 3-year composite primary endpoint of death, myocardial infarction (MI), or stroke in patients with left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) and site-assessed low or intermediate SYNTAX scores treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Whether these results are consistent in high-risk patients with diabetes, who have fared relatively better with CABG in most prior trials, is unknown.

Care,agency and criminality: Making sense of authorised extended distribution in the accounts of key stakeholders

IntroductionOne of the current harm reduction debates in Australia concerns the legalisation of the extended distribution of sterile needles and syringes, a practice that is currently unlawful in most Australian settings.MethodsWe used data from a unique pilot program of authorised extended distribution to document the opinions held by 22 key stakeholders -service staff, drug users and police - about the risks and benefits of authorisation, and to analyse the ways in which drug users were understood within these.ResultsOpinions were strongly in favour of authorising extended distribution, based on the belief that this would reduce the transmission of hepatitis C. However, stakeholders also identified that distributors risked attention from police and some noted that the consequences of this would be borne by distributors themselves and not the services that support them. These opinions rested on specific assumptions about people who inject, some of which reflect negative constructions of drug users as a source of danger to the public or as helpless ‘addicts’ with little control over their risk reduction. But there were other representations that positioned drug users more positively as responsible agents with a strong duty of care to themselves and others whose choices are often limited by inadequate service structures. Staff participants drew on these understandings in careful and strategic ways, arguing for the rationality and expertise of drug users, while also problematizing the individualised approach that any form of authorised extended distribution might take.ConclusionWe argue that localised and incremental changes such as those that took place to support this pilot project, and the extensive support for extended distribution among stakeholders in this study including police, creates meaningful opportunities to think about extended distribution differently, which can in turn support conditions for future discussions about legislative change.     

Topical Treatment of Oral Mucositis in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials

Background and Purpose: Evidence-based protocols of topical therapy for oral mucositis (OM) induced by chemoradiotherapy (CRT) are continuously established and updated. Thus, the present systematic review aims to evaluate the scientific literature in terms of effectiveness of topical treatment of OM in cancer patients undergoing CRT.  Materials and Methods: This systematic review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Checklist. Randomized clinical trials were identified through electronic database searches on CINAHL, Cochrane Library, LILACS, Livivo, PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science. Grey literature was also assessed on Google Scholar, Open Grey, and ProQuest. The risk of bias in the included studies was assessed by the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool. Results: Twenty-three randomized clinical trials (n=1169 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-three different topical agents were examined and categorized into five groups: analgesics (30.4%), natural agents (21.7%), other topical agents (21.7%), antimicrobial agents (17.4%), and growth factors (8.8%). Of the included studies, 50% presented a resolution of OM within 14 days. Topical natural agents yielded good results with average resolution time of 3–7 days. The included studies generally demonstrated that patients treated with mouthwashes presented superior benefits compared to the control, depending on OM severity. Conclusion: Topical agents effectively reduced the severity of OM lesions and pain intensity in patients receiving chemoradiotherapy, although the effects varied by agent type. However, the heterogeneity in the results of these topical intervention studies underscores the need for standardized clinical trial methodologies. Clinical Relevance: Topical agents were effective in patients with severe OM lesions receiving chemoradiotherapy and are a good alternative of home care in relation to pain control, reduction of inflammation and consequent improvement in quality of life.     

替格瑞洛对比氯吡格雷治疗东亚ACS患者有效性和安全性的Meta分析

目的:系统性评价替格瑞洛对比氯吡格雷治疗东亚急性冠状动脉综合征(ACS)患者的有效性和安全性,旨在为临床用药提供循证参考。方法:计算机检索Cochrane图书馆、PubMed、Embase、中国知网、万方数据库等,收集替格瑞洛(试验组)对比氯吡格雷(对照组)治疗东亚ACS患者的随机对照试验(RCT)。筛选文献、提取数据后采用Cochrane系统评价员手册5.1.0推荐的偏倚风险评估工具对纳入文献进行质量评价,采用Rev Man 5.3统计软件进行Meta分析。结果:共纳入5项RCT,共计4511例患者。Meta分析结果显示,两组患者主要心血管不良事件发生率[OR=0.85,95%CI(0.68,1.04),P=0.12]、心血管原因死亡率[OR=0.76,95%CI(0.57,1.03),P=0.08]、脑卒中发生率[OR=0.77,95%CI(0.48,1.24),P=0.28]比较,差异均无统计学意义;试验组患者主要出血事件发生率[OR=1.54,95%CI(1.19,1.99),P=0.001]、次要出血事件发生率[OR=1.80,95%CI(1.40,2.32),P<0.00001]均显著高于对照组。结论:替格瑞洛在降低东亚ACS患者的主要心血管不良事件、心血管原因死亡以及脑卒中的发生风险等方面的作用与氯吡格雷相当,但该药会增加患者主要出血、次要出血事件的发生风险。     

Intervention to Increase Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Initiation Rates in Adolescent Males

The objective of this quality improvement project was to increase human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine initiation rates among males aged 11 to 21 years old. A multipronged strategy was implemented at a pediatric practice, including an electronic medical record prompt, educational presentation, and monthly e-mail updates to providers. Deidentified HPV vaccine initiation rate data were collected, and a paired 2-sample t test evaluated differences in prepost vaccine initiation rates. HPV vaccine initiation rates increased by 6.5% during the project period. The medical record prompt was identified as most effective by 75% of participating providers. Small gains can be made to improve HPV vaccine initiation rates among adolescent males.